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A Dead Reckoning
A Dead Reckoning

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for A Dead Reckoning
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.
A grim tragedy centred round the spot.
Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.
One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.
The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Dead Reckoning

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.
Line 2
A grim tragedy centred round the spot.
Line 3
Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.
Line 4
One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.
Line 5
The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.”

All words in this reading · 78

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

any

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

centred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A grim tragedy centred round the spot.

century

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

certain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

confederates

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

Cottage

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

crime

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

Crofton

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

dark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

district

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

fired

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

fixed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

gamekeeper

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

George

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

go

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

grim

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A grim tragedy centred round the spot.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

home

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

ill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

inhabitant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

less

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

made

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

miles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

much

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

near

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

obnoxious

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

own

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

places

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

poachers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

previously

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

quarter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

rebuilt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The crime was never brought home to any one, neither was the cottage ever rebuilt.

rendezvous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

repute

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

round

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A grim tragedy centred round the spot.

shot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

Some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

specially

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

spot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

threshold

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

tragedy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A grim tragedy centred round the spot.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One night he was shot dead on his own threshold and his cottage fired in two places.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

Varley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

Varley's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Some quarter of a century previously the cottage had been the home of a certain gamekeeper, Varley by name, who had made himself specially obnoxious to the poachers of the district.

willingly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Varley's Cottage, which place George Crofton and his confederates had fixed upon as their rendezvous, was a spot of ill repute for miles around, and one which no inhabitant of the district would willingly go near by day, much less after dark.